LEINSTER 38-16 SCARLETS Leinster tore into Scarlets from the 9th minute until the 81st minute to hammer the Welsh side and reach the Champions Cup final in Bilbao. Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster can have asked for no more than their players delivered as Leinster reached their first European Cup final in six seasons. Scarlets […]

8 years ago

The former Leinster forward gave his old club something to chew over, on several occasions, this season and last. Tadhg Beirne was close to packing in the professional rugby ambitions and focusing on a new career when Scarlets came calling. Wayne Pivac and Stephen Jones placed their faith in him and he repaid them in […]

8 years ago

The event is set to take place in Ballyfermot on Saturday afternoon. With the referendum coming up on the Eighth Amendment [of the Irish Constitution], next month, many individuals and groups across the country are coming out in favour of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes. The referendum on Friday, May 25 will either lead to the […]

8 years ago

Arsene Wenger on the sideline and Wayne Rooney up front. If only it was a decade ago, Everton fans would surely agree. Wenger has announced he will be leaving Arsenal after 20 years at the end of this season. The Frenchman made the Gunners a Premier League superpower in his first decade at the helm […]

8 years ago

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience.” Every Irish rugby player that has toured South Africa, at schools, club, underage or professional level, will tell you how ingrained in the culture the sport of rugby is. How a tour in the land of Springboks, Sharks and Griquas can be a life-changing experience. Back in 2016, […]

8 years ago

“He and James Ryan are literally unbeatable, for now at least.” Dan Leavy and James Ryan are coming towards the end of unforgettable seasons for province and country. The flanker and lock have gone from Ireland newcomers to regular starters and Grand Slam winners. With Leinster, they have become vital to their dual quest for […]

8 years ago

“Imma go put on a show.” The UFC’s lightweight division once again made the headlines after Kevin Lee missed weight for his UFC Atlantic City fight against Edson Barboza. With Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson both dealing with their own issues, Lee and Barboza know a dominant or highlight reel victory could push them right […]

8 years ago

Watching Sean O’Brien from the stands at the Aviva Stadium, last November and December, it was clear that he was in a whole other battle away from the mere game at hand. He willed and cursed and urged himself through Tests against South Africa and Argentina then did the same, for Leinster, against Exeter Chiefs. […]

8 years ago

Johann van Graan will have tossed and turned over this team selection all week. Munster were no sooner back from their winning, two-match tour to South Africa than they were packing up for Bordeaux. If they beat Racing 92 on Sunday, they and their supporters will be frantically booking and plotting for Bilbao and the […]

8 years ago

Leinster are set to unleash one hell of a starting XV on Scarlets, with five Ireland internationals on the bench. This Saturday sees Scarlets return to Dublin, a happy stomping ground last season, for a Champions Cup semi-final in front of a sell-out crowd. Leinster flanker Dan Leavy dropped all the spin, earlier this week, […]

8 years ago

It began with a discussion on CJ Stander and quickly rolled into lively territory. Irish rugby has greatly benefited from some high quality imports over the past three decades and most fans will have their favourite. Deciding on who is the greatest ever takes some candid words, debate and some damn good reasons to pick […]

8 years ago

Ultra competitive

8 years ago

To Dan Leavy, going to the gym for a weights session with James Ryan on his week off makes all the sense in the world. On Saturday, March 17, Leavy helped Ireland to only their third ever Grand Slam. That night, Sunday and Monday came the celebrations. Tuesday was time to reflect, and recover. By […]

8 years ago

There are no good times to get sidelined but Robbie Henshaw’s shoulder injury arrived when he was in excellent form. The Leinster centre had performed superbly to help his team reach the Champions Cup knock-out stages before stepping up for Ireland against France and Italy. In his his second try against the Azzurri, Henshaw’s shoulder […]

8 years ago

Reporter: “How’s the body going to feel after you retire?” Sean O’Brien: “Broken up.” Leinster’s “50/50” calls look like they are going against them. Robbie Henshaw may well be back ahead of schedule for the province but Luke McGrath is struggling to prove his fitness for Saturday’s Champions Cup semi-final with Scarlets. Team news will […]

8 years ago

The fitness of Luke McGrath may, not for the first time this season, have a knock-on effect across the squad. The Leinster and Ireland scrumhalf made a return from injury to help the Blues see off Saracens in the Champions Cup quarter final but went over on his ankle in the second half. He has […]

8 years ago

Monday of a European Cup semi final and Dan Leavy is in good spirits. Scott Fardy is doing his best to give enough without giving anything away when, through a window beside the conference room door, Leavy appears with a broad grin. The 24-year-old is having the season of his life, so far, and is […]

8 years ago

James McClean was well up for West Brom’s visit to Old Trafford. It has been a frustrating season for McClean, at club level. While the Derry native has done well for Ireland, he has played under four managers [two caretakers] at the Hawthorns in the past seven months. Tony Pulis, Gary Megson, Alan Pardew and […]

8 years ago

“If you get the right goalkeeper, it will get you 12, 13, 14 points a season.” Damian Lynch was impressed with what he saw from Shane Supple last night and he was not the only one. The Bohemians goalkeeper pulled off a stunning save to deny Shamrock Rovers’ Gary Shaw a goal in the closing […]

8 years ago

Sean Caffrey was on top form, but his opponents can’t be gifting him easy scores like this. The Na Fianna forward was listed 13 for his side’s Dublin club championship match against Lucan Sarsfields but he donned the 15 jersey and looked good in it. Caffrey’s side were 2-9 to 1-10 ahead of their group […]

8 years ago

181 games and 947 points over seven seasons for Ulster. 29 Test appearances and 200 points for Ireland. Thanks but no thanks. At 25 and 26-years-old, Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson are moving on. The Belfast natives both achieved their long-held ambition of playing for Ulster back in 2011. Both were special talents and were […]

8 years ago

Both men have spoken out. Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have both released statements in response to confirmation from the IRFU and Ulster Rugby that their playing contracts have been immediately revoked. In late March, the pair were found not guilty of rape and sexual assault of a young woman after a lengthy trial in Belfast. Their […]

8 years ago

Lots have struggled with this

8 years ago

The news was confirmed in a joint statement. The IRFU and Ulster Rugby have revoked the contracts of players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding after the conclusion of their internal review. In late March, the pair were found not guilty of rape and sexual assault of a young woman after a lengthy trial in Belfast. […]

8 years ago

Ahead of his fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC Glendale, Dustin Poirier ranked the current lightweight division thus: Conor McGregor Khabib Nurmagomedov (the champion) Tony Ferguson ‘The Diamond’ was full of praise for Nurmagomedov, who won the undisputed 155lbs belt at UFC 223, but pointed out that as long as McGregor is in the picture […]

8 years ago

The pair were found not guilty of rape and sexual assault, in late March, after a protracted trial in Belfast. Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson are set to leave Ulster Rugby, according to Press Association. Following their trial, the rugby players were to take part in an internal review, held by the IRFU and UIster Rugby, […]

8 years ago

Marie O’Callaghan and Mary Quinlan still have that Munster buzz. Munster finished up their two-game spin of South Africa with another victory and they had Conor Murray to thank in Bloemfontein. The scrum-half came off the bench to score a try and kick an epic, 51-metre penalty as Munster recovered from 14-0 down to win […]

8 years ago

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-2 BOHEMIANS A hotly contested contest on the pitch, at Tallaght Stadium, but grim scenes in the stands. Bohemians got the better of Shamrock Rovers in their Airtricity League encounter but, unfortunately, much of the post-match talk will be about the behaviour of a small but aggressive sections from both the home and […]

8 years ago

CHEETAHS 17-19 MUNSTER Munster have all but secured second place in Conference A of the Guinness PRO 14 after a gutsy, comeback win over Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The plan was for Munster to give Conor Murray a run out against the Cheetahs but to go easy on the lad. Murray’s first game back, for his […]

8 years ago

The Liverpool attacker has a good point here. Mohamed Salah is having the season of his life and there could yet be great personal and team prizes to claim yet and make it even better. The Egyptian scored his 38th Liverpool goal of the season against Manchester City in the 2-1 second leg Champions League […]

8 years ago

“We’ll get to see him fight in the next six to 12 months.” Dan Hardy believes Conor McGregor will face severe financial punishments for his part in the Barclays Center bus attack, before UFC 223, that left windows smashed, fighters injured and two employees of the promotion hurt. McGregor and several colleagues targeted a bus […]

8 years ago

“It’s a moment that we’ve dreamed of as children… and big children.” – John Muldoon, May 2016 How did it come to this? In May 28th 2016, Connacht captain John Muldoon raised aloft the Guinness PRO12 trophy with Ronan Loughney and Rodney Ah You screaming to the high heavens on either side. Bundee Aki was […]

8 years ago

On the face of it, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are keeping themselves busy and contributing well to Manchester United’s season. Rashford and Martial have often been left to scrap for one starting position but the eventual emergence of Jesse Lingard and the arrival of Alexis Sanchez has seen them shunted back. With United’s season […]

8 years ago

“It’s just an incredible advantage for us to have.” We are coming towards the closing straight of a season that has been memorable for Irish rugby and could get better yet. Ireland are deserving Grand Slam champions and second best in the world while two provinces, Leinster and Munster, are in the Champions Cup semi […]

8 years ago

Following the conclusion of the final two Champions League quarter finals, on Wednesday, BT Sport ran a poll to gauge who the competition favourites were. Real Madrid, who had squeaked past Juventus in controversial fashion, got 41% while Liverpool ended with 37%. Roma only accounted for 4% of the vote but the biggest surprise was […]

8 years ago

This team, and squad, selection from Johann van Graan is spot on. Munster can seal second spot in their Guinness PRO14 conference on Friday by defeating Cheetahs down in South Africa. Currently lying second in Conference A, seven points back from Glasgow, the Irish province look set for a quarter final in the coming weeks. […]

8 years ago

Bradley Carnegie Thorn was only at Leinster for three months but, six years on, he is still talked about in reverential tones and terms. ‘Thorny’ came, he saw and he won a Heineken Cup to add to his ludicrous collection. Sportsmen and women have often had a crack at different sporting codes but few have […]

8 years ago

Having had to suck up the success of Manchester United for so many years of his playing career, Steven Gerrard is enjoying Liverpool’s Champions League run this season. Gerrard was on top, slagging form on BT Sport, on Wednesday, as he wound up former United defender Rio Ferdinand. United are out of the competition while […]

8 years ago

The Champions League semi final draw will be made on Friday afternoon and none of the other three teams would be overly keen on facing reigning champions Real Madrid. On the other hand, if Sergio Ramos is suspended and given some of Real’s shambolic defending in their second leg loss to Juventus, perhaps they would. […]

8 years ago

Now they know what they have to do. Four days after UFC 223, the promotion’s controversial rankings have been updated. On the Friday before UFC 223, a little over an hour after Max Holloway was pulled from the main event, highly respected lightweight Paul Felder was told he was not being considered for a last-minute […]

8 years ago

A case of two truly great players putting the game to one side and showing their human side. Over in Italy, the press are calling Michael Oliver’s decision to award a late penalty to Real Madrid, and against Juventus, ‘The Crime of the Century’. We may only be 18 years into the 21st century but […]

8 years ago

Al Iaquinta was preparing for a fight in front of his hometown crowd, in Brooklyn, New York, last Friday when he heard Max Holloway was not going to make the UFC 223 headliner. ‘Raging Al’ made a beeline for the hotel lobby and began campaigning for the main event fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov to UFC […]

8 years ago

Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Conor Murray and CJ Stander. All of them tried and all of them failed. Tadhg Beirne had a great 2016/17 season but he ended it like a man possessed. He bossed Leinster at The RDS, a ground he briefly stomped at, and was superb in the PRO12 final against Munster, scoring […]

8 years ago

‘The kid looks a special talent.’ Former Limerick and Cork City attacker Chiedozie Ogbene made his Championship debut for Brentford, on Tuesday, and played an instrumental part in helping them get a vital win. The Bees are still in contention for the end-of-season playoffs but went into their game against Nottingham Forest, at the City Ground, […]

8 years ago

Fudgesickles! Pep Guardiola was like a bull at half-time during his side’s Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool. Manchester City were gliding serenely through the 2017/18 season when they happened upon the two old glory-hounds of English football, Liverpool and Manchester United. Within the space of seven days they have lost three games, […]

8 years ago

That’s 10 goals for the season, for Sean Maguire, and he is flying it. Maguire scored his sixth goal in eight Preston games, on Tuesday, to help his Championship playoff-chasing side to a 3-1 win over Leeds. The 23-year-old now has 10 goals and three assists in 17 starts since joining Preston last summer. Given […]

8 years ago

“I didn’t know what was going to happen.” One of the more unsettling images of the whole Barclays Center loading bay bus attacking, carried out by Conor McGregor and several of his colleagues, was that of Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Rose Namajunas in the midst of the chaos. The women’s straw-weight fighters were on board the same […]

8 years ago

Brad Thorn spoke with disarming poignancy on switching to rugby union as a tribute to his late father. In 2000, Thorn was 25-years-old and one of the biggest rugby league stars in Australia. He was earning good money, playing for his hometown team [Brisbane Broncos], had just claimed his second NRL title and was dating […]

8 years ago

One of those comments that sounded great at the time but ended up coming back to bite Rory McIlroy. Following an impressive third round at The Masters, which included a birdie on 18, a pumped up Rory McIlroy spoke about his final day pairing with Patrick Reed. The Northern Irishman and American had famously duelled […]

8 years ago

‘The Eagle’ likes a bit of chat during his fights. Khabib Nurmagomedov claimed the undisputed UFC lightweight belt in Brooklyn, on Saturday, after taking a unanimous decision victory over Al Iaquinta. The Dagestani fighter emerged from a hectic, troubling week that saw him slated to fight three different opponents and targeted in a bus attack […]

8 years ago